Sec. 8. Conditions for funding
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Section 2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 ( 42 U.S.C. 8624 ) is amended— in subsection (b)— in paragraph (1)(C), by inserting before the semicolon the following: , using toxin-free materials that do not contain asthmagens or respiratory sensitizers, giving priority in the use of those funds, to the greatest extent practicable, to supporting emergency home repairs that foster energy efficiency, decarbonization, and climate resilience, including through beneficial electrification of heating and cooling ; in paragraph (7)— in subparagraph (C), by striking and at the end; and by adding at the end the following: ensure that— the home energy supplier will not charge late fees for any payment, by a household receiving assistance through the program funded under section 2602(b), during the period beginning 6 months before and ending 6 months after a date on which the supplier receives funds through the program for the household; and if the supplier receives funds through the program for such a household and charged such late fees during that period, the supplier shall refund the fees to the household not later than 7 days after the date the supplier receives the funds; ensure that the home energy supplier will not shut off home energy from a household that received assistance through the program funded under section 2602(b), within the 1-year period beginning on the date the household received the assistance; ensure that the home energy supplier, in return for receiving assistance through the program funded under section 2602(b)— will provide to the State data on households that have not paid their home energy bills, to enable the State and the supplier to carry out coordinated outreach concerning assistance available through the program funded under section 2602(b); and will, when sending a notice of late payments to such households, include information on such assistance, on how to access such assistance through the HEAP program, and on eligibility criteria for the program; and ensure that the home energy supplier will, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, in return for receiving assistance under the program funded under section 2602(b) and through a partnership with the State, offer percentage of income payment plans; ; and in paragraph (9)— in subparagraph (A)— by striking 10 percent and inserting 15 percent ; and by striking and at the end; and by adding at the end the following: in planning and administering that program, the State shall use the portion of the amount described in subparagraph (A), that exceeds 10 percent of the funds described in subparagraph (A), to expand the State program funded under section 2602(b) so that the State operates the program on a year-round basis; and in planning and administering that program, the State— shall make technological changes to allow, not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, for online submission of applications for assistance through that program; and shall, to the extent practicable— conduct outreach activities, including activities to increase enrollment as described in subsection (m); ensure that all HEAP coordinators in the State receive wages, for administration funded under section 2602(b), at not less than the greater of $15 per hour or the applicable Federal, State, or local minimum wage rate; conduct training; as needed, conduct outreach relating to the program funded under section 2602(b) to rural electric cooperatives, home energy suppliers owned by a political subdivision of a State, such as a municipally owned electric utility, and home energy suppliers owned by any agency, authority, corporation, or instrumentality of a political subdivision of a State; and explore opportunities for auto-enrollment of eligible households into the program funded under section 2602(b), and in the process document any potential barriers to auto-enrollment that need to be clarified or otherwise addressed at the Federal level; ; in subsection (c)(1)— in subparagraph (G), by striking and at the end; by redesignating subparagraph
(H)as subparagraph (I); and by inserting after subparagraph
(G)the following: describes how the State will expand the State program funded under section 2602(b) so that the State operates the program on a year-round basis in accordance with subsection (b)(9)(C) and the measures the State has taken so far to carry out this expansion; and ; and by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall allow, to the greatest extent possible, the self-attestation, and shall not require the proof, described in subsection (c)(1)(A)(i). The Secretary shall, by grant or contract, provide for a study that examines the rates of home energy shutoffs and assessments of late fees among eligible households, relative to those rates for households that are not eligible households, over a period of several years. The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to States to support partnerships described in subsection (b)(7)(H). The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall issue guidance for use of funds for administrative activities described in subsection (b)(9) to increase, through partnerships with elementary schools, secondary schools, and local educational agencies, enrollment in the program carried out with funds made available under section 2602(b) among eligible households that include children and that have high energy burdens. The Secretary shall issue guidance for use by States on outreach relating to assistance through the program funded under section 2602(b) to high-risk individuals, with relevant medical conditions, that benefit from the use of medical equipment that requires electricity, including a ventilator, an oxygen concentrator, or another medical device. The Secretary shall issue guidance for use by States on how to ensure that eligible households are aware of additional grants, tax credits, and rebates, made available under Public Law 117–169 . .
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